GRI unveils first-ever professional exam to test knowledge of the G4 Guidelines and the GRI Reporting process.

On February 2, 2015, Amsterdam GRI, architect of the world’s most widely used sustainability reporting framework, unveiled the GRI G4 Exam, a first-of-its-kind opportunity for sustainability professionals to demonstrate their knowledge of G4 and the GRI Reporting Process. Individuals who have attended one of GRI’s Certified Training Courses or Training Modules are now eligible to take the G4 Exam for a fee. Trainees who earn a passing score on the exam will receive a certificate to that effect and their names will be listed on the GRI website. In this way, these practitioners can increase their credibility and good reputation in the sustainability field.

Of GRI’s decision to develop the G4 Exam, Chief Executive Michael Meehan said, “With more than 17,000 GRI reports registered in our database and more than 19,000 professionals having attended a GRI Certified Training Course, the practice of sustainability reporting is poised to take a quantum leap, as organizations begin using the reporting process for strategic decision-making, to innovate and create value for their stakeholders. The G4 Exam will help stimulate this next step in sustainable development by increasing the number of highly skilled professionals working in the field.”

The GRI G4 Exam tests candidates on their knowledge of the content of the G4 Guidelines, as well as the 5 phases of the GRI Reporting process: Prepare, Connect, Define, Monitor and Report. The exam consists of 60 multiple choice questions and test takers will be given 90 minutes to complete them. Candidates, who score at least 75%, will receive a passing mark. The exam can be taken at 4,500 test centers in 70 countries and individuals only become eligible to do so after attending a training course or module given by one of GRI’s Certified Training Partners. Candidates in developing countries can take this exam for a reduced fee and members of GRI’s OS Program are also eligible for a discount.

“Since 2008, thousands of sustainability professionals have attended one of the high-quality courses provided by our Certified Training Partners,” said GRI’s Director of Services Asthildur Hjaltadottir. “The GRI G4 Exam is the logical next step, giving trainees a chance to show their thorough understanding of our framework.” For more information please visit the GRI website or email us.

The value of Integrated Reporting is now widely acknowledged in the market, according to a new white paper, 'Allocating Capital for Long-Term Returns' released by the Generation Foundation in May 2015.

The paper evaluates the progress made towards the recommendations set out in their initial white paper, 'Sustainable Capitalism' released back in 2012. Their conclusion is that the new model of capitalism they proposed, which included Integrated Reporting, "has gained significant momentum and support".

The report states that, "An increasing number of companies are practicing Integrated Reporting or are in the process of making a transition to Integrated Reporting, suggesting the market acknowledges [its] value". It suggests this change has happened due to the range of benefits <IR> has to offer, such as a more holistic view of performance and better insight into risk, strategy, the business model, the operating context and governance. It concludes that studies now find that firms practicing Integrated Reporting are "able to attract more long-term investors to their ownership base".

The report, which draws heavily on the research of a wide-ranging number of organizations, continues stating that, "a focus on the long-term through Integrated Reporting is especially important in a modern market with shifting macroeconomic values, wherein an average of 84 percent of the market value of companies now lies in intangible assets".

The Generation Foundation is the advocacy initiative of Generation Investment Management of which David Blood is the Senior Partner. Blood has been an important supporter of Integrated Reporting since the IIRC’s inception, having authored with Al Gore 'A Manifesto for Sustainable Capitalism' in 2011. In this manifesto they argued that, "Despite an increase in the volume and frequency of information made available by companies, access to more data for public equity investors has not necessarily translated into more comprehensive insight into companies. Integrated Reporting addresses this problem by encouraging companies to integrate both their finances and ESG performance into one report that includes only the most salient or material metrics. This enables companies and investors to make better resource-allocation decisions by seeing how ESG performance contributes to sustainable long-term value creation."

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